§20-1-16. Natural resources commission -- Generally.
The natural resources commission, created and established by
provisions of section three of this article, shall be a public
benefit corporation and as such may sue and be sued, plead and be
impleaded, contract and be contracted with, and have and use a
common seal. It shall be a commission advisory to the director
and to the department of natural resources. The commission shall
be composed of seven members, known as commissioners, one from
each congressional district and the remainder from the state at
large, appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate. Their terms of office shall begin on the
first day of July and shall be for a period of seven years,
except that the governor in making the initial appointments shall
designate and define their respective terms of office so that the
term of one member of the commission will expire each year. As
initial appointments expire, all subsequent appointments shall be
for terms of seven years or for the unexpired term of a member
who may have died, resigned or become disqualified.

The members of the commission shall be citizens and
residents of the state, selected with special reference to their
training and experience in relation to the principal activities
required of the commission, and for their ability and fitness to
perform their duties within the purposes of this chapter. No
member of the commission shall be a candidate for or hold any
public office other than that of member of the commission; nor
shall he be a member of any committee of a political party. In
case a member becomes a candidate for or accepts appointment to any public office or political party committee, his office as
member of the commission shall be immediately vacated.